JP2008251631A - Vacuum processing apparatus, operating method of the vacuum processing apparatus, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a residual gas in a processing container from diffusing to a conveyance chamber in a vacuum processing apparatus equipped with the conveyance chamber, set in a vacuum atmosphere having a conveyance means connected with a conveyance port of the processing container for processing, by a processing gas under the vacuum atmosphere via a gate chamber for transferring a substrate. <P>SOLUTION: The vacuum processing apparatus is designed so as to provide the processing container, the conveyance chamber, a gate valve provided in the gate chamber for closing the conveyance port, when processing the substrate in the processing container and for opening the port, when transferring the substrate to the container. An inert gas supply part and an exhaust port are provided, respectively in the gate chamber so that a flow of an inert gas is formed at a position exposed to the conveyance port, to prevent the residual gas in the processing chamber from diffusing into the conveyance chamber, while at least the conveyance port is open; and accordingly, the residual gas in the processing container is prevented from diffusing from the conveyance port and contaminating the conveyance chamber. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vacuum processing apparatus and a vacuum processing apparatus including a processing container that performs vacuum processing on a substrate, and a transport chamber that is connected to the processing container via a gate chamber and includes a transport unit that transfers the substrate. The operation method and the storage medium of

  In the manufacturing process of a semiconductor device, gas processing using a processing gas such as dry etching or CVD (Chemical Vapor Deposition) is frequently used for a semiconductor wafer (hereinafter referred to as a wafer) which is a substrate to be processed. As a processing apparatus for performing such gas processing, from the viewpoint of processing a plurality of wafers with high throughput, a processing chamber (process chamber) is provided via a gate chamber in a transfer chamber (transfer chamber) having a wafer transfer mechanism. A multi-chamber type is known in which a plurality of processing modules for performing predetermined gas processing are connected.

Each processing vessel is provided with a wafer transfer port, and each transfer port is configured to be opened and closed by a gate valve provided in the gate chamber. The transfer chamber has an inert gas supply port and an exhaust port. Further, a processing gas supply port and an exhaust port are respectively provided in the processing container, and both the transfer chamber and each processing container are kept in a vacuum state. When the gate valve is closed and the both are shut off, a predetermined gas treatment is performed in the processing container. When a wafer is transferred between the transfer chamber and the processing container, the gate valve is opened and the two communicate with each other. To do.

By the way, in such a vacuum processing apparatus, after the processing in the processing container is completed, processing gas, by-product gas, etc. remain in the processing container, and these gases are gated when the gate valve is opened. If it diffuses into the transfer chamber through the chamber, it may cause contamination, generate particles from the gas adhering to the transfer chamber, contaminate the wafer, and corrode parts in the transfer chamber. It is necessary to clean the transfer chamber regularly with high frequency.

Conventionally, in order to prevent such problems as described above, the transfer chamber is kept at, for example, about several tens to several hundreds Pa, and when a wafer is transferred between the transfer chamber and the processing container, the pressure (P0) in the processing container Is lower than the pressure (P1) in the transfer chamber (P0 <P1), and after a predetermined pressure difference is formed between the transfer chamber and the processing container, the gate valve is opened to transfer the gas in the processing container. Diffusion to the room was suppressed. However, since the exhaust is also performed in the transfer chamber as described above, the inert gas may flow toward the exhaust port even if a pressure difference is formed, and the inert gas does not flow to the transfer port of the processing container, In some cases, gas diffusion from the processing container cannot be sufficiently suppressed. Although it is conceivable to increase the pressure in the transfer chamber, the consumption of the inert gas increases and the cost increases. Furthermore, the pressure in the transfer chamber may be set in the transition region of the inert gas from the viscous flow to the molecular flow or in the molecular flow region, and it is difficult for the inert gas to flow according to the pressure difference. Diffusion may be more likely to occur.

Although Patent Document 1 describes a vacuum processing apparatus in which an exhaust port is provided in the gate valve housing, the object of the invention of Patent Document 1 is different from the object of the present invention.
JP 2001-291758 A (paragraph 0027 and FIG. 3)

  The present invention has been made based on such circumstances, and an object thereof is to connect a processing container for processing a substrate with a processing gas and a transfer port of the processing container through a gate chamber. And a transfer chamber provided with transfer means for delivering a substrate to the processing container through the transfer port, and a residual in the processing container while the transfer port is open. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vacuum processing apparatus, a method for operating the vacuum processing apparatus, and a storage medium that can suppress diffusion of gas into a transfer chamber.

A vacuum processing apparatus according to the present invention includes a processing container in which a substrate transport port is formed and processing a substrate with a processing gas in a vacuum atmosphere.
A transfer chamber that is connected to the transfer port of the processing container via a gate chamber and has a vacuum atmosphere provided with transfer means for delivering the substrate to the processing container via the transfer port;
A gate valve provided in the gate chamber for closing the transfer port when processing a substrate in the processing container, and opening the transfer port when transferring the substrate to the processing container;
At least during the opening of the transfer port, in order to suppress the diffusion of residual gas in the processing container to the transfer chamber, an air flow of an inert gas is formed in the gate chamber so as to face the transfer port. An inert gas supply unit and an exhaust port provided respectively are provided.

  In the vacuum processing apparatus, for example, when the gate valve in the gate chamber is closed, the supply of the inert gas from the inert gas supply unit is stopped, and for example, the transfer chamber includes the transfer chamber. Are provided with an inert gas supply unit and an exhaust port for forming an inert gas flow. “When the gate valve in the gate chamber is closed, the supply of the inert gas from the inert gas supply unit is stopped” means that the supply of the inert gas is stopped at the moment when the gate valve is closed. It is not limited, and includes a case where there is a time lag. The gate valve may be configured to open and close the exhaust port of the gate chamber in accordance with the opening and closing of the transfer port. For example, when the gate valve in the gate chamber is closed, the exhaust port of the gate chamber is closed. It may be done. “Close the exhaust port of the gate chamber” means to close the exhaust path from the vacuum pump to the exhaust port.

    For example, when the gate valve is in a state where the transfer port is opened and stopped, an opening is formed at a position overlapping the exhaust port so that the exhaust port of the gate chamber is open. A plurality of common transfer chambers may be connected to each other via the gate chamber. For example, the transfer chamber has an exhaust port for exhausting the transfer chamber, and an inert gas flow is generated in the gate chamber. When forming, the exhaust port is closed. In this case, the transfer chamber may include an inert gas supply unit that supplies an inert gas to form an air flow in the transfer chamber.

In addition, the invention of another vacuum processing apparatus includes a plurality of processing containers each having a substrate transport port formed therein and performing processing on the substrate with a processing gas in a vacuum atmosphere, and a gate chamber at the transport ports of the plurality of processing containers And a common transfer chamber having a vacuum atmosphere provided with transfer means for delivering the substrate to the processing container via each transfer port,
A gate valve provided in the gate chamber for closing the transfer port when processing a substrate in the processing container, and opening the transfer port when transferring the substrate to the processing container;
In order to suppress the diffusion of the residual gas in the processing container into the transfer chamber, an inert gas flow is formed in the transfer chamber so as to prevent the residual gas from being diffused at a position facing the transfer port. An exhaust port provided in the active gas supply unit and the gate chamber;
An inert gas supply unit for forming an air flow of an inert gas in the transfer chamber and forming an air flow of an inert gas in the transfer chamber;
An exhaust port for exhausting the transfer chamber, which is provided in the transfer chamber and is closed when an inert gas stream is formed in the gate chamber,
The exhaust port of the gate chamber is closed when the gate valve is closed.

For example, in the vacuum processing apparatus, for example, the inert gas supply unit for preventing residual gas diffusion is provided for each transfer port, and the inert gas supply unit for preventing residual gas diffusion, and the air flow in the transfer chamber The forming inert gas supply unit may be shared.

The operating method of the vacuum processing apparatus of the present invention includes a processing container in which a substrate transport port is formed, a substrate connected to the transport port via a gate chamber, and the substrate to the processing container via the transport port. In a method of operating a vacuum processing apparatus provided with a transfer chamber that is a vacuum atmosphere provided with transfer means for delivering,
A process of processing a substrate with a processing gas in a vacuum atmosphere in the processing container in a state where the transfer port is closed by a gate valve provided in the gate chamber;
Opening the transfer port by the gate valve and unloading the substrate from the processing container by the transfer means;
At least while the transfer port is open, the transfer port is controlled by an inert gas supply unit and an exhaust port provided in the gate chamber in order to suppress diffusion of residual gas in the processing container into the transfer chamber. Forming a flow of inert gas at a position facing the surface;
It is provided with.

  In the method, for example, when the gate valve in the gate chamber is closed, the supply of the inert gas from the inert gas supply unit may be stopped, and the inert gas supply unit provided in the transfer chamber and The exhaust port may include a step of forming an inert gas stream in the transfer chamber. Further, when the gate valve in the gate chamber is closed, the exhaust port of the gate chamber may be closed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a vacuum processing apparatus, comprising: a processing container having a substrate transfer port formed therein; and a substrate connected to the transfer port through a gate chamber and the substrate through the transfer port. In a method of operating a vacuum processing apparatus provided with a transfer chamber that is a vacuum atmosphere provided with a transfer means for delivering
A process of processing a substrate with a processing gas in a vacuum atmosphere in the processing container in a state where the transfer port is closed by a gate valve provided in the gate chamber;
Opening the transfer port by the gate valve and unloading the substrate from the processing container by the transfer means;
In order to suppress the diffusion of the residual gas in the processing container into the transfer chamber, the transfer port is provided by an inert gas supply unit for preventing diffusion of the residual gas provided in the transfer chamber and an exhaust port provided in the gate chamber. Forming a flow of inert gas at a position facing the surface,
A step of forming an air flow of inert gas in the transfer chamber by an inert gas supply unit for forming a transfer chamber air flow provided in the transfer chamber;
A step of closing an exhaust port for exhausting the transfer chamber provided in the transfer chamber when forming an air flow of inert gas in the gate chamber;
Closing the exhaust port provided in the gate chamber when the gate valve is closed;
It is provided with.

  The storage medium of the present invention is a storage medium that stores a computer program that is used in a vacuum processing apparatus that performs vacuum processing on a substrate and that operates on a computer, and the computer program is an operation of the above-described vacuum processing apparatus. Steps are organized to carry out the method.

According to the vacuum processing apparatus of the present invention, a transfer chamber having a transfer means for transferring the substrate through the gate chamber is connected to the transfer port of the processing container for processing the substrate with the processing gas, A gate valve that opens and closes the transfer port in the gate chamber, and an inert gas supply unit and an exhaust port that form an inert gas stream at a position facing the transfer port at least while the transfer port is open; Since the residual gas in the processing container is diffused from the transfer port, the transfer chamber can be prevented from being contaminated.

  According to a vacuum processing apparatus of another invention, a transfer chamber having transfer means for transferring a substrate through a gate chamber is connected to transfer ports of a plurality of processing containers for processing a substrate with a processing gas. A gate valve for opening and closing the transfer port in the gate chamber, and an inert gas supply unit provided in the transfer chamber and the gate chamber so as to form an inert gas flow at a position facing the transfer port. And an exhaust port for exhausting the transfer chamber provided in the transfer chamber and closed when an inert gas flow is formed in the gate chamber. It is possible to prevent the residual gas from diffusing from the transfer port and contaminating the transfer chamber.

(First embodiment)

  A configuration of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 to which the vacuum processing apparatus of the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIG. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a first transfer chamber 12, load lock chambers 13 and 13, and a second transfer chamber 21 that constitute a loader module that loads and unloads a wafer W that is a substrate. The wafer W is transferred to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 in a state of being housed in a hermetically sealed carrier C configured to include a plurality of, for example, 25 wafers. A load port 11 on which the carrier C is placed is provided in front of the first transfer chamber 12, and the carrier C placed on the load port 11 is connected to the front wall of the first transfer chamber 12. A gate door GT that is opened and closed together with the lid of the carrier C is provided.

  An alignment chamber 14 is provided on the side surface of the first transfer chamber 12. The load lock chambers 13 and 13 are provided with a vacuum pump and a leak valve (not shown) so as to be switched between an air atmosphere and a vacuum atmosphere. That is, since the atmospheres of the first transfer chamber 12 and the second transfer chamber 21 are maintained in an air atmosphere and a vacuum atmosphere, the load lock chambers 13 and 13 transfer the wafer W between the transfer chambers. When doing, it has a role to adjust the atmosphere. A gate chamber provided with a gate valve which is a gate valve that can be opened and closed between the load lock chambers 13 and 13 and the first transfer chamber 12 and between the load lock chambers 13 and 13 and the second transfer chamber 21. G is provided, and the gate valve is closed except when the wafer W is transferred, and the chamber is partitioned.

  The first transfer chamber 12 is provided with first transfer means 15, and the first transfer means 15 is provided between the carrier C and the load lock chambers 13 and 13, and between the first transfer chamber 12 and the alignment chamber 14. The wafer W is transferred between the two.

The second transfer chamber 21 includes a housing 20 formed in, for example, a flat hexagonal shape, and four transfer ports 22 for the wafer W are opened on the side wall thereof. Each transfer port 22 is connected to a CVD module 3 as a processing module through a gate chamber 5 described later. The second transfer chamber 21 has second transfer means 23 and 23 which are articulated transfer arms for transferring the wafer W between the load lock chambers 13 and 13 and the respective CVD modules 3. It is provided in the second transfer chamber 21.

For example, a gas supply port 24 which is a gas supply unit is opened on the bottom surface of the housing 20 of the second transfer chamber 21. One end of a gas supply path 24A is connected to the gas supply port 24, and the other end of the gas supply path 24A stores an inert gas such as N2 gas via a gas supply control mechanism 25 including a valve and a mass flow controller. The gas supply source 26 is connected. An exhaust port 27 is opened in the side wall of the housing 20, and one end of an exhaust path 27 </ b> A is connected to the exhaust port 27. The other end of the exhaust passage 27A is constituted by a vacuum pump or the like, and is connected to an exhaust means 28 including a pressure adjusting unit (not shown). The gas supply control mechanism 25 receives a control signal from the control unit 10A, which will be described later, and controls the supply and disconnection of N ₂ gas to the second transfer chamber 21, and the exhaust means 28 receives the control signal from the control unit 10A. By receiving and adjusting the exhaust amount, an air flow for exhausting particles is formed in the second transfer chamber 21, and the second transfer chamber 21 is controlled to have a predetermined pressure.

FIG. 2 shows vertical side surfaces of the second transfer chamber 21, the gate chamber 5, and the CVD module 3. The CVD module 3 includes a processing container 30, and a stage 31 for placing the wafer W horizontally is provided in the processing container 30. The stage 31 is provided with a heater (not shown) and three lifting pins 32b (only two are shown for convenience) that can be lifted and lowered by a lifting mechanism 32a. The second transfer chamber 21 is provided via the lifting pins 32b. The wafer W is transferred between the second transfer means 23 and the stage 31.

An exhaust port 34 is opened at the bottom of the processing container 30, and the exhaust port 34 is connected to an exhaust unit 36 configured by a vacuum pump or the like via an exhaust path 35. In response to the control signal from the control unit 10A, the exhaust unit 36 exhausts the inside of the processing container 30 with a predetermined exhaust amount and maintains a predetermined degree of vacuum. In addition, a transfer port 38 for the wafer W is opened at a position corresponding to the transfer port 22 of the second transfer chamber 21 on the side wall of the process chamber 30 that overlaps the gate chamber 5. An O-ring 38A, which is a ring-shaped resin seal member, is provided so as to surround the conveyance port 38.

Further, a gas shower head 42 having a large number of gas supply holes 43 is provided on the ceiling portion of the processing container 30 so as to face the stage 31 with a support member 41 interposed therebetween. A gas supply path 45 connected to the head 42 is connected to a gas supply source 47 in which a processing gas such as a film forming gas for forming a film on the wafer W such as TiCl ₄ or WF ₆ is stored. . A gas supply control unit 46 including a valve and a mass flow controller provided in the gas supply path 45 receives a control signal from the control unit 10A, so that supply / disconnection of the processing gas into the processing container 30 is performed. Be controlled.

For each CVD module 3 connected to the second transfer chamber 21, for example, the processing temperature, processing pressure, film forming gas, etc. of the wafer W are different from each other, and different films can be formed on the wafer W. Yes.

  Next, the gate chamber 5 will be described. The gate chamber 5 includes a vertically flat casing 50 and a wall portion of the processing container 30. A transfer port 22 for the wafer W is provided on a side wall of the casing 50 that overlaps the second transfer chamber 21. A transport port 51 is provided so as to overlap with. Further, on the side wall on the other surface side that overlaps with the CVD module 3, for example, a horizontally elongated exhaust port 53 is formed below the transport port 38 of the CVD module 3, and one end of the exhaust path 54 is formed in the exhaust port 53. Is connected. The other end of the exhaust passage 54 is connected to an exhaust means 56 constituted by, for example, a vacuum pump including a pressure adjusting means. The casing 50 is provided with an O-ring 53 </ b> A that is a ring-shaped resin seal member so as to surround the gas exhaust port 53.

A gas nozzle 61 as an inert gas supply unit is provided above the housing 50. 3A and 3B, the gas nozzle 61 is configured in a horizontally long cylindrical shape whose one end is closed, and a flow path 62 is formed therein. The side peripheral wall of the gas nozzle 61 is constituted by what is called a break filter, which is a sintered body having a porous structure such as ceramics. The side peripheral wall has a large number of pores, and these pores communicate with each other. Thus, a gas flow path is formed in a three-dimensional network. A cover 61 a is provided on the surface of the side peripheral wall, and a cut 61 b is formed in the cover 61 a along the lateral direction of the gas nozzle 61. The gas supplied to the flow path 62 is supplied from the cut 61b to the front surface of the conveyance port 38 obliquely below, and at this time, the flow velocity of the gas supplied from each part of the cut 61b becomes substantially uniform.

One end of a flow path 63 is connected to the flow path 62, and the other end of the flow path 63 is a gas supply source 65 in which N ₂ gas is stored via a gas supply control unit 64 including a valve and a mass flow controller. It is connected to the. The gas supply control unit 64 receives a control signal from the control unit 10 </ b> A and controls the supply and disconnection of N ₂ gas from the gas supply source 65 to the gas nozzle 61.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a gate valve 57 is provided in the housing 50. The gate valve 57 has a stepped portion 57 a formed on the back side thereof (the side facing the CVD module 3), and the lower side of the stepped portion 57 a corresponds to an opening / closing valve for the exhaust port 53. A support portion 58 is provided at the lower portion of the gate valve 57, and the support portion 58 extends to the outside of the housing 50 through a hole 50 a provided at the lower portion of the housing 50 and is connected to the driving portion 59. Has been. A bellows 58a that can be expanded and contracted along the opening edge of the hole 50a is disposed outside the portion where the support portion 58 penetrates the hole 50a so that the inside of the housing 50 is kept airtight. In response to the control signal from the control unit 10A, the drive unit 59 can move the gate valve 57 in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction with respect to the transport port 38 via the support unit 58. The exhaust port 53 is opened and closed.

FIG. 4 shows a state where the gate valve 57 is lowered and the transfer port 38 and the exhaust port 53 are opened. As will be described later, by supplying N ₂ gas from the gas nozzle 61 and exhausting from the exhaust port 53 when the gate valve 57 is opened, an air flow of N ₂ gas is formed in the region facing the transfer port 38, The N ₂ gas that has flowed into the housing 50 from the processing container 30 is prevented from diffusing through the housing 50 and flowing into the second transfer chamber 21.

The supply amount of N ₂ gas from the gas nozzle 61 of each gate chamber 5 and the exhaust amount from the exhaust port 53 form the residual gas in the processing container 30 according to the processing pressure of the wafer W of the CVD module 3 to be connected. It is individually controlled so that it can be prevented from diffusing into the second transfer chamber 21 by being swept away by the N ₂ gas flow.

When the gate valve 57 is raised and the transfer port 38 and the exhaust port 53 are closed, the drive unit 59 causes the upper side of the stepped portion 57a on the back surface of the gate valve 57 to pass through the O-ring 38A. And the lower side of the stepped portion 57a is in close contact with the housing 50 via the O-ring 53A, so that the housing 50 and the processing container 30 of the CVD module 3 are hermetically partitioned and the exhaust port 53 is hermetically partitioned. .

  The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 is provided with a control unit 10A composed of, for example, a computer. The control unit 10A includes a data processing unit including a program, a memory, and a CPU. The control unit 10A sends a control signal to each unit of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 from the control unit 10A, and a gate valve 57 of the gate chamber 5 described later. Instructions (each step) are incorporated so as to advance the transfer of the wafer W including the opening / closing operation and the processing of the wafer W. In addition, for example, the memory includes an area in which values of processing parameters such as processing pressure, processing temperature, processing time, gas flow rate or power value of each processing module are written, and when the CPU executes each instruction of the program, These processing parameters are read out, and a control signal corresponding to the parameter value is sent to each part of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1. This program (including programs related to processing parameter input operations and display) is stored in a storage unit 10B such as a computer storage medium such as a flexible disk, a compact disk, a hard disk, or an MO (magneto-optical disk) and installed in the control unit 10A. The

Next, the operation of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIGS. The carrier C is transported to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 and placed on the load port 11 and connected to the first transport chamber 12. At this time, N ₂ gas is supplied from the gas supply port 24 and exhausted from the exhaust port 27 in the housing 20 of the second transfer chamber 21 of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1, and the pressure is several tens to several hundreds. For example, the pressure in the processing container 30 is kept lower than several tens to several hundreds Pa by evacuating the processing container 30 of each CVD module 3 through the exhaust port 34. I'm leaning.

When the carrier C is connected to the first transfer chamber 12, the gate door GT and the lid of the carrier C are then opened simultaneously, and the wafer W in the carrier C is moved into the first transfer chamber 12 by the first transfer means 15. Then, it is transported to the alignment chamber 14, adjusted in its direction and eccentricity, and then transported to the load lock chamber 13. After the pressure in the load lock chamber 13 is adjusted, the wafer W is transferred from the load lock chamber 13 to the second transfer chamber 21 maintained in a vacuum atmosphere by the second transfer means 23.

Thereafter, N ₂ gas is supplied from the gas nozzle 61 of the gate chamber 5 connected to one predetermined CVD module 3, and then the gate valve 57 is slid downward by the drive unit 59, and the transfer port 38 and the exhaust port 53 opens, the gas in the housing 50 is exhausted from the exhaust port 53, and an N ₂ gas flow from the gas nozzle 61 toward the exhaust port 53 is formed. And the residual gas in the processing vessel 30 through the transfer port 38 and flows into the housing 50 of the gate chamber 5, these gases are swept into the N ₂ gas flow, to the exhaust port 53 together with the N ₂ gas stream And exhausted.

When the N ₂ gas flow is formed, a wafer (not shown) processed by the CVD module 3 is taken out from the processing container 30 by the second transfer means 23 not holding the wafer W, and subsequently the wafer W The second transport means 23 that holds the fluid enters the processing container 30 through the transport port 38 (FIG. 5A).

When the lift pins 32b are raised and the wafer W is received, the second transfer means 23 is retracted from the processing container 30, and the lift pins 32b are lowered to place the wafer W on the stage 31, and the wafer W is placed on the stage. A predetermined temperature is maintained by the heater in 31. Further, the gate valve 57 is raised, the back surface thereof is brought into close contact with the O-rings 38A and 53A, and the transfer port 38 and the exhaust port 53 are closed. When the inside of the post-processing container 30 is evacuated and maintained at a predetermined pressure, a film forming gas such as TiCl ₄ gas is supplied from the gas shower head 42 to form a film on the wafer W (FIG. 5 ( b)).

After the film forming process is finished, when the supply of the film forming gas from the gas shower head 42 is stopped and the inside of the processing container 30 is maintained at a predetermined pressure, N ₂ gas is supplied from the gas nozzle 61, and then the drive unit 59 The gate valve 57 of the gate chamber 5 is lowered, the transfer port 38 and the exhaust port 53 are opened, the gas in the housing 50 is exhausted from the exhaust port 53, and the gas nozzle 61 is connected to the exhaust port 53 in front of the transfer port 38. An N ₂ gas flow toward is formed (FIG. 5C). When the gas such as the film forming gas and the by-product remaining in the processing container 30 of the CVD module 3 flows into the casing 50 of the gate chamber 5 through the transfer port 38, these gases are indicated by arrows in the figure. The N ₂ gas flow is pushed away, and the N ₂ gas flow is discharged to the exhaust port 53 together with the N ₂ gas flow.

When the N ₂ gas flow is formed in the housing 50, the second transfer means 23 enters the processing container 30, and the wafer W is received by the second transfer means 23 from the stage 31 via the lift pins 32b. The second transfer means 23 transfers the wafer W to the second transfer chamber 21 through the transfer port 51 and the transfer port 22 (FIG. 6A). Thereafter, the gate valve 57 is raised, the back surface thereof is in close contact with the O-rings 38A and 53A, the exhaust port 53 and the transport port 38 are closed, and the exhaust from the exhaust port 53 is stopped almost at the same time. The supply of gas from 61 stops (FIG. 6B). Subsequently, the wafer W is delivered to, for example, the other CVD modules 3 in the same manner, undergoes a predetermined film forming process, and when all set film forming processes are received, the second transfer means 23 causes the load lock chamber to be loaded. 13 is transferred to the first conveying means 15 through 13 and then returned to the carrier C by the first conveying means 15.

According to the above embodiment, the gate valve 57 that opens and closes the transfer port 38 of the processing container 30 of the CVD module 3 and the exhaust port 53 of the gate chamber 5, the gas nozzle 61 that supplies gas to the front of the transfer port 38, and the transfer port 38, an exhaust port 53 that opens below 38 is provided. After the processing gas for the wafer W is supplied into the processing container 30, the gate valve 57 is opened to open the transfer port 38 and the exhaust port 53, N ₂ gas is exhausted the N ₂ gas from the exhaust port 53 is supplied from the gas nozzle 61, a gas stream to remove the residual gas in the process container 30 flowing out from the transfer port 38 in a region facing the transfer port 38 Therefore, it is possible to prevent the residual gas from diffusing into the second transfer chamber 21 and contaminating the second transfer chamber 21. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the wafer W from being contaminated by the particles generated from the residual gas and cross contamination from occurring in the wafer W. Further, when a corrosive gas is used as the processing gas for the CVD module, each part of the second transfer chamber 21 can be prevented from being damaged.
In addition, when the wafer W is transferred from the CVD module 3, an inert gas is allowed to flow only to the gate chamber 5 connected to the CVD module 3, and therefore, for example, the supply amount of N ₂ gas in the _second transfer chamber 21 is increased. Thus, compared to a case where the pressure difference between the second transfer chamber 21 and the CVD module 3 is increased, the consumption amount of N ₂ gas can be suppressed and the cost can be reduced. Further, in this embodiment, since the gate valve 57 opens and closes both the transport port 38 and the exhaust port 53, when the transport port 38 is opened, air can be exhausted from the exhaust port 53 without fail.

In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which N ₂ gas is supplied and exhausted in the gate chamber 5 after the film formation process of the wafer W to prevent gas diffusion from the processing container 30 to the second transfer chamber 21. However, for example, there is a case where gas is supplied from the gas shower head 42 to form a processing atmosphere in the processing container 30 before the film forming process is performed. In this case, it is effective to supply and exhaust N ₂ gas to prevent diffusion of the gas forming the processing atmosphere into the second transfer chamber 21. In the above embodiment, the gas supply from the gas nozzle 61 does not have to be stopped at the moment when the gate valve 57 is closed, and there may be some deviation in these timings.

Further, while the gate valve 57 closes the transfer port 38, the exhaust port 53 is not blocked, and the gas supply from the gas nozzle 61 and the exhaust from the exhaust port 53 are always performed in the gate chamber 5 and N _2. The case where a gas flow is formed is also included in the technical scope of the present invention. However, in order to prevent the air flow in the second transfer chamber 21 is disturbed, it is preferred that only by forming a stream of the N ₂ gas while opening the gate valve 57 as described above. Further, the present invention is not limited to being applied to a multi-chamber type vacuum processing apparatus having a plurality of processing containers as in the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 described above, and a load lock chamber having a transfer means in one processing container is provided. The present invention is also applied to the case where they are connected. In this case, the load lock chamber corresponds to the transfer chamber in the claims.

In the above embodiment, when the N ₂ gas flow formed by the gas nozzle 61 and the exhaust port 53 is affected by the shape of the second transfer chamber 21 and the position of the transfer port 38, the exhaust port 27 is closed or the exhaust port 27 is exhausted. The exhaust path connected to the mouth 27 may be closed.

  FIG. 7A shows a modified example of the gate valve of the first embodiment. In this modified example, a gate valve 66 different from the gate valve 57 is provided. The gate valve 66 differs from the gate valve 57 in that an opening 67 corresponding to the exhaust port 53 is formed in the thickness direction, and the transfer port 38 and the exhaust port 53 of the processing container 30 are formed by the gate valve 66. When sealed, the opening 67 is formed so as to be positioned at a height between the lower end of the O-ring 38A and the upper end of the O-ring 53A so as not to disturb the sealing. As shown in FIG. 7B, when the wafer W is transferred, the opening 67 slides downward so as to overlap the exhaust port 53, and the exhaust port 53 and the transfer port 38 are opened. ing.

  With such a configuration, the moving stroke of the gate valve 66 can be reduced, and the lifting mechanism can be simplified. Therefore, the time from the opening of the transport port 38 to the opening of the exhaust port 53 is kept short. Therefore, the inflow of gas from the processing container 30 to the second transfer chamber 21 can be more reliably suppressed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, another embodiment of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. This semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is configured in the same manner as the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 except that a gate chamber 7 is provided instead of the gate chamber 5. The gate chamber 7 is different from the gate chamber 5 in that the gate valve for opening and closing the transfer port 38 and the gate valve for opening and closing the exhaust port 53 are configured as separate gate valves 71 and 72, respectively. Is mentioned. The gate valve 71 and the gate valve 72 are formed in a rectangular shape corresponding to the transfer port 38 and the exhaust port 53, respectively. The gate valve 71 and the gate valve 72 are, for example, a support portion 73 formed in the same manner as the support portion 58, 74 are connected to the drive units 75 and 76, respectively. The drive units 75 and 76 slide the gate valve 71 and the gate valve 72 independently in the vertical direction, and the back surfaces of the gate valves 71 and 72 are connected to the outer wall and the housing of the processing vessel 30 through the O-rings 38A and 53A. By bringing the body 50 into close contact with each other, the conveyance port 38 and the exhaust port 53 can be opened and closed independently. The support portions 73 and 74 extend out of the housing 50 through holes 73a and 74a provided in the lower portion of the housing 50, respectively, and at the opening edges of the holes 73a and 74a as in the gate chamber 5. Bellows are provided along the airtightness in the housing 50, but the illustration of the bellows is omitted for convenience.

With reference to FIG. 9 as well, a state in which the film-formed wafer W is transferred from the CVD module 3 to the second transfer chamber 21 in the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus to which the gate chamber 7 is applied will be described. When the film forming process is completed in the CVD module 3, the gate valve 72 is slid downward by the driving unit 76 from the state shown in FIG. 8, the exhaust port 53 is opened, and the interior of the housing 50 is exhausted from the exhaust port 53. Is done. The N ₂ gas is supplied from the gas nozzle 61 into the housing 50 at the same time as the exhaust from the exhaust port 53 or a little later, and the gas nozzle 61 is disposed in the region facing the transfer port 38 as in the gate chamber 5. An N ₂ gas flow toward the exhaust port 53 is formed (FIG. 9A).

When the N ₂ gas flow is formed, the gate valve 71 slides downward, the transfer port 38 is opened, and the gas in the processing container 30 flowing out from the transfer port 38 to the housing 50 is discharged together with the N ₂ gas. It flows into 53 and is removed (FIG. 9B). After the wafer W is unloaded from the processing container 30, the gate valve 71 is raised and the transfer port 38 is closed (FIG. 9C), and the supply of N ₂ gas from the gas nozzle 61 is stopped a little later than that. The gate valve 72 is closed and the exhaust through the exhaust port 53 is stopped.

According to the second embodiment, a gas flow can be formed in a region facing the transfer port 38 before the transfer port 38 is opened, and the N ₂ gas flow can be maintained even after the transfer port 38 is closed. Since formation can be continued, it can suppress more reliably that the gas which remained in the processing container 30 flows in into the 2nd conveyance chamber 21 via the conveyance port 38. FIG.

Further, for example, instead of providing the gate valve 72 in the second embodiment, for example, a valve is provided in the exhaust passage 54 connected to the exhaust port 53, and the exhaust through the exhaust port 53 is controlled by opening and closing the valve. This case is also included in the scope of the right of the present invention.

(Third embodiment)
Next, another embodiment of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus according to the third embodiment is different from the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment in that the gas nozzle 61 is not provided in the gate chamber 5. As another difference, the gas supply path 24 </ b> A is connected to a gas nozzle 66 provided at the center of the ceiling of the second transfer chamber 21 instead of being connected to the floor surface of the housing 20. The gas nozzle 66 is configured in the same manner as the gas nozzle 61, for example, and supplies N ₂ gas downward. Further, instead of providing the exhaust port 27 on the side wall of the housing 20, for example, the exhaust port 27 is opened at a position that does not interfere with the passage of the second transfer means 23 in the vicinity of the center of the floor surface of the second transfer chamber 21. In the figure, reference numeral 78 denotes a valve interposed in the exhaust passage 27A. Valve 78 unless the transfer port 38 is opened as will be described later is opened, the pressure in the second transfer chamber 21 by the N ₂ gas is supplied from the gas nozzle 66 while being exhausted from the exhaust port 27 is for example It is kept at several tens to several hundreds Pa.

In the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus of the third embodiment, a state when the wafer W is transferred from the CVD module 3 will be described with reference to FIGS. When the film forming process for the wafer W is completed, the valve 78 is closed and the exhaust from the exhaust port 27 is stopped (FIGS. 11A and 11B). After that, the gate valve 57 of the gate chamber 5 is lowered, the exhaust is performed from the exhaust port 53, and the N ₂ gas supplied from the gas nozzle 66 is transferred to the housing of the gate chamber 5 through the transfer ports 22 and 51 of the wafer W. By flowing into the body 50 and exhausting from the exhaust port 53, an N ₂ gas flow from the gas nozzle 66 toward the exhaust port 53 is formed. When the residual gas flows out from the processing container 30 to the housing 50, the residual gas is pushed away by the N ₂ gas flow, flows into the exhaust port 53, and is exhausted (FIG. 11 (c)).

When the wafer W is unloaded from the processing container 30 by the second transfer means 23, the gate valve 57 is raised, the transfer port 38 and the exhaust port 53 are closed, and the exhaust from the exhaust port 53 is stopped. Then, the valve 78 is opened approximately at the same time as or a little later than the exhaust port 53 is closed, and exhaust is performed from the exhaust port 27 (FIG. 12). Even with such a configuration, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained. Further, in the third embodiment, the valve 78 is closed and the exhaust from the exhaust port 27 is stopped, so that an N ₂ gas flow from the gas nozzle 66 toward the exhaust port 53 is efficiently formed.

  In the third embodiment, the gas supply nozzle 66 for forming an air flow in the second transfer chamber 21 is used as a gas supply unit for the gate chamber 5. However, in order to form an exhaust flow in the gate chamber 5. For example, a gas supply unit such as a gas nozzle may be provided in the vicinity of each gate chamber 5 in the second transfer chamber 21. In this case, exhaust from the exhaust port 27 of the second transfer chamber 21 may not stop.

  In the third embodiment, for example, a film formation process end signal of the CVD module 3 is transmitted to the control unit 10A, the gate valve 57 is opened in the gate chamber 5 connected to the corresponding processing container 30, and the exhaust is performed as described above. Is done. This end signal can be, for example, a detection signal indicating that the elevating pin 32b is raised.

In each of the above embodiments, a substrate such as an LCD substrate, a glass substrate, or a ceramic substrate may be processed in addition to the wafer. Further, although an example of N ₂ gas as the inert gas supplied from the gas nozzle and the gas supply port, is not limited to N ₂ as the inert gas, the He (helium), Ne (neon), Ar (argon ) Or a gas such as H ₂ (hydrogen) may be used.

It is a top view of the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus containing the gate valve of this invention. It is a vertical side view of the gate valve, the second transfer chamber, and the CVD module provided in the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus. It is a block diagram of the gas nozzle provided in the said gate valve. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the gas nozzle, the gate valve, an exhaust port, and a substrate transfer port of the CVD module. FIG. 5 is a process diagram illustrating a state in which gas supply and exhaust are performed in the gate valve during wafer transfer. FIG. 5 is a process diagram illustrating a state in which gas supply and exhaust are performed in the gate valve during wafer transfer. It is the vertical side view which showed the structure of the other gate valve. It is the vertical side view which showed the structure of the further another gate valve. FIG. 5 is a process diagram illustrating a state in which gas supply and exhaust are performed in the gate valve during wafer transfer. It is a vertical side view of another gate valve and a substrate transfer chamber connected thereto. FIG. 5 is a process diagram illustrating a state in which gas supply and exhaust are performed in the gate valve and the substrate transfer chamber during wafer transfer. FIG. 5 is a process diagram illustrating a state in which gas supply and exhaust are performed in the gate valve and the substrate transfer chamber during wafer transfer.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 21 2nd conveyance chamber 23 2nd conveyance means 3 CVD module 5 Gate chamber 53 Exhaust port 54 Exhaust path 57 Gate valve 61 Gas nozzle

Claims (16)

A processing container in which a substrate transfer port is formed and processing the substrate with a processing gas in a vacuum atmosphere;
A transfer chamber that is connected to the transfer port of the processing container via a gate chamber and has a vacuum atmosphere provided with transfer means for delivering the substrate to the processing container via the transfer port;
A gate valve provided in the gate chamber for closing the transfer port when processing a substrate in the processing container, and opening the transfer port when transferring the substrate to the processing container;
At least during the opening of the transfer port, in order to suppress the diffusion of residual gas in the processing container to the transfer chamber, an air flow of an inert gas is formed in the gate chamber so as to face the transfer port. A vacuum processing apparatus comprising an inert gas supply unit and an exhaust port provided respectively. 2. The vacuum processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the gate valve in the gate chamber is closed, the supply of the inert gas from the inert gas supply unit is stopped.   The vacuum processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transfer chamber is provided with an inert gas supply unit and an exhaust port for forming an inert gas flow in the transfer chamber.   4. The vacuum processing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the gate valve in the gate chamber is closed, the exhaust port of the gate chamber is closed.   The vacuum processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the gate valve is configured to open and close an exhaust port of the gate chamber in accordance with opening and closing of the transfer port.   The gate valve has an opening formed at a position overlapping the exhaust port so that the exhaust port of the gate chamber is open when the transfer port is open and stopped. Item 6. The vacuum processing apparatus according to any one of Items 1 to 5.   The vacuum processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of the processing containers are connected to a common transfer chamber via gate chambers. Each substrate transport port is formed, and connected to the plurality of processing containers for processing the substrate with the processing gas in a vacuum atmosphere and the transport ports of the plurality of processing containers through the gate chamber, and each transport A common transfer chamber having a vacuum atmosphere provided with transfer means for delivering the substrate to the processing container through the mouth;
A gate valve provided in the gate chamber for closing the transfer port when processing a substrate in the processing container, and opening the transfer port when transferring the substrate to the processing container;
In order to suppress the diffusion of the residual gas in the processing container into the transfer chamber, an inert gas flow is formed in the transfer chamber so as to prevent the residual gas from being diffused at a position facing the transfer port. An exhaust port provided in the active gas supply unit and the gate chamber;
An inert gas supply unit for forming an air flow of an inert gas in the transfer chamber and forming an air flow of an inert gas in the transfer chamber;
An exhaust port for exhausting the transfer chamber, which is provided in the transfer chamber and is closed when an inert gas stream is formed in the gate chamber,
The vacuum processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the gate valve is closed, an exhaust port of the gate chamber is closed.   9. The vacuum processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the inert gas supply unit for preventing the residual gas diffusion is provided for each transport port.   10. The vacuum processing apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the inert gas supply unit for preventing residual gas diffusion and the inert gas supply unit for forming a transfer chamber airflow are shared. A processing container in which a substrate transport port is formed; and a vacuum atmosphere provided with a transport means connected to the transport port via a gate chamber and delivering the substrate to the processing container through the transport port; In a method of operating a vacuum processing apparatus provided with a transfer chamber,
A process of processing a substrate with a processing gas in a vacuum atmosphere in the processing container in a state where the transfer port is closed by a gate valve provided in the gate chamber;
Opening the transfer port by the gate valve and unloading the substrate from the processing container by the transfer means;
At least while the transfer port is open, the transfer port is controlled by an inert gas supply unit and an exhaust port provided in the gate chamber in order to suppress diffusion of residual gas in the processing container into the transfer chamber. Forming a flow of inert gas at a position facing the surface;
A method for operating a vacuum processing apparatus, comprising: 12. The operation method of a vacuum processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the gate valve in the gate chamber is closed, the supply of the inert gas from the inert gas supply unit is stopped.   13. The operating method of a vacuum processing apparatus according to claim 11, further comprising a step of forming an inert gas flow in the transfer chamber by an inert gas supply unit and an exhaust port provided in the transfer chamber.   14. The operating method of a vacuum processing apparatus according to claim 11, wherein when the gate valve in the gate chamber is closed, the exhaust port of the gate chamber is closed. A processing container in which a substrate transport port is formed; and a vacuum atmosphere provided with a transport means connected to the transport port via a gate chamber and delivering the substrate to the processing container through the transport port; In a method of operating a vacuum processing apparatus provided with a transfer chamber,
A process of processing a substrate with a processing gas in a vacuum atmosphere in the processing container in a state where the transfer port is closed by a gate valve provided in the gate chamber;
Opening the transfer port by the gate valve and unloading the substrate from the processing container by the transfer means;
In order to suppress the diffusion of the residual gas in the processing container into the transfer chamber, the transfer port is provided by an inert gas supply unit for preventing diffusion of the residual gas provided in the transfer chamber and an exhaust port provided in the gate chamber. Forming a flow of inert gas at a position facing the surface,
A step of forming an air flow of inert gas in the transfer chamber by an inert gas supply unit for forming a transfer chamber air flow provided in the transfer chamber;
A step of closing an exhaust port for exhausting the transfer chamber provided in the transfer chamber when forming an air flow of inert gas in the gate chamber;
Closing the exhaust port provided in the gate chamber when the gate valve is closed;
A method for operating a vacuum processing apparatus, comprising: A storage medium storing a computer program used on a vacuum processing apparatus for performing vacuum processing on a substrate and operating on a computer,
A storage medium characterized in that the computer program includes a group of steps so as to implement the operating method of the vacuum processing apparatus according to any one of claims 11 to 15.

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